An outstanding collection of international case studies that provide insight into and suggest best practice for issues such as conservation, risk management, education, marketing, interpretation and technology of actual and developing geotourism sites.

An outstanding collection of international case studies that provide insight into and suggest best practice for issues such as conservation, risk management, education, marketing, interpretation and technology of actual and developing geotourism sites.

Geotourism is tourism surroounding geological attractions and destinations. This unique text uses a wealth of case studies to discuss the issues involved in the management and care of such attractions, covering topics such as sustainability, impacts and environmental issues. Geotourism: Sustainability, impacts and management leads the reader logically through the process, covering both the theories involved and the practicalities of managing such 'environmentally precious' attractions.

Geotourism: the tourism of geology and landscape is a compilation of first class international research which provides insight into the many facets of this emerging subject, and comprehensively explores the nexus between landscape, geological phenomena and tourism.

Ross Dowling and David Newsome present an original, substantial and much-needed contribution to the field which will further our understanding of geotourism in theory and practice. This Handbook defines, characterizes and explores the subject through a range of international perspectives and case studies, identifying geotourism as a rapidly emerging form of urban and regional sustainable development. With extensive case studies from North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa, this global Handbook examines and explains the relationship between geology and tourism. Thematically arranged sections cover the relationship of geology with tourism, sustainability and society, geotourism in urban areas, and interpretation and education strategies. The final two sections assess geotourism?s impact through wide-ranging case studies of UNESCO global geoparks and geotourism in a range of countries. The eminent academics and practitioners demonstrate how geotourism is a vehicle future for engaging the public and protecting geosites, as well as emphasising the importance of sustainability. An essential resource for students and educators, this Handbook provides an international perspective for those interested in tourism, environmental geography, ecology and geology. Written with practitioners in mind, this book reveals how tourism professionals and geologists can build a common vision by working together in sharing knowledge at the nexus of geology and tourism. Contributors include: M. Allan, E. Aparecida Del Lama, R.S. Aquino, A. Asrat, N. Azman, T. Brown, M. Burlando, H.S. Cahyadi, R.M. Clary, K. Crawford, E. da Silva Guimarães, R. Dowling, A. Dumaliang, B.C. Dumaliang, P. Erfurt, S. Espiner, N.T. Farsani, M. Garofano, A. Gates, C. Gomez, J.E. Gordon, M. Gray, N. Grünert, S.A. Halim, Herlina, Y. Jeon, J. Johnston, H.T. Kobryn, I. Komoo, L. Kubalíková, U. Lagally, J. Larwood, E.A. Lima, M. Machado, P. Migon, R. Miller, C. Neto de Carvalho, D. Newsome, R. Peña, H. Purdie, A. Riganti, J.P.R. Rivera, D.A. Ruban, H. Samodra, L. Sheydder de Oliveira Lopes, R.C. Soares, K. Takenouchi, M. Thomas, H. Torigoe, M. Van Kranendonk, J. Weber, G. Worton, K. Xu

Essays on aspects of the natural world, its heritage, and how best to preserve it. Europe's engagement from the late sixteenth century onwards in scientific Earth science inquiry has generated numerous and varied collections of minerals, rocks, and fossils, together with their associated archives, artworks and publications, forming a rich cultural geoheritage held in major private and especially royal and aristocratic collections, museums, universities, archives and libraries. The mines, quarries, geological structures, landforms, minerals, rocks and fossils - or geodiversity - that underpin these collections populate past and present-day Earth science literature. However, for too long their scientific, historic and cultural significance was not universally recognised and generally they were not accorded adequate resources and protection - or geoconservation. Hence, geotourism was developed in the 1990s to raise public awareness of Europe's geoheritage and geodiversity and to promote itsgeoconservation; the volume's theoretical essays and case studies examine these four core geoelements and provide a timely introduction for anyone interested in natural history museums, countryside management, and landscape-basedtourism. Dr Thomas A. Hose is an Honorary Research Associate in the School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. He has pioneered the recognition of and research into geotourism, and is the author of the world's first doctoral thesis on the subject. Contributors: Kevin Crawford, Peter Davis, John E. Gordon. Thomas A. Hose, Jonathan G. Larwood, Slobodan B. Markovic, Martin Munt, Emmanuel Reynard, Nemanja Tomic, Djordjije A. Vasiljevic, Margaret Wood, Volker Wrede

The book introduces tourism earth-science as a new scientific discipline by applying the principles of earth-science in the study of natural and human tourism resources. It involves studying the geo-scientific characteristics of these tourism resources through surveys, evaluation and aesthetic value assessment. It also discusses about the principles behind geopark establishment and management. It is an important publication providing direction for geopark and tourism developments in China. The book is a tool for geological heritage survey, assessment and research. It can also be used to assist planning of geopark, national parks, heritage protection and scientific interpretation. It is a valuable teaching material for teachers and students of geoscience and tourism as well as providing useful guidance for geopark managers and tour guides in their operation. In addition, the book also offers scientific knowledge of the surrounding natural and cultural landscapes to the public and the general visitors.

This unique book is dedicated to helping promote geoheritage, geoconservation, and geoparks in Africa and the Middle East. Local, regional, global and thematic case studies including a geoheritage toolkit are used to illustrate the scope and depth of geoheritage and highlight some current geoparks and aspiring candidates in Africa, the Middle East, China , Europe,and Australia. This special issue mainly consists of the proceedings of the First International Conference on Geoparks in Africa and Middle East (FICGAME) held in, El Jadida, Morocco in 2011. The conference, hosted by the Faculty of Sciences of Chouaib Doukkali University, was organized by the African Geoparks Network and the African Association of Women in Geosciences incollaboration with the UNESCO Cairo Office.

A global industry and an important tool for economic development, international tourism is facing an increasingly uncertain future. Global environmental change, including climate change; increasing fuel prices; and growing criticism from environmental and social interest groups are posing substantial challenges to the belief that international tourism can be sustainable at current rates and patterns of growth. This book therefore aims to answer the questions of if and how tourism can be a sustainable industry. The book concludes that sustainable tourism is possible but that it requires fundamental shifts in operations, systems and philosophies. The various contributions identify a number of means by which this can be accomplished but stress that sustainable tourism still has a long way to travel before it can reach its destination.

This book explores the geographical, geomorphological, ecological, touristic and socioeconomic aspects of natural heritage, argues for the dynamic conservation of that heritage and explains its key characteristics, promotion, conservation and management to achieve sustainable development goals. Emerging concepts such as geodiversity, geographical heritage sites, geomonuments, geoparks and geotourism are increasingly being used by conservationists. At present, the development of geoparks is a major global theme involving the application of geosciences to promote the inclusive growth of society and the protection and conservation of our unique geoheritage. Currently, there are 147 UNESCO global geoparks across 41 countries, in addition to a number of national-level geoparks. Pursuing a holistic approach towards such sites will sensitise the general public to the need for geoconservation of significant geosites and promote it through geotourism. It is a crucial issue, as various countries around the world are eager to develop their geoparks and are working for the conservation of geoheritage sites at the national level. This unique book gathers contributions from 15 countries in the form of case studies analysing the realities on of geographical heritage, geoparks and geotourism. The respective chapters address the role of geoparks as essential tools for education, recreation and nature conservation. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable guide for geoscientists, planners, policymakers, civil society and anyone concerned about the conservation of geoheritage sites and geoparks for a sustainable future Earth.